Travel More For Less: 6 Countries You Can Visit For Under $1000 Per Month

Remember when we talked about how to quit your job and travel the world? Well here’s what comes next… But first, let me ask you, how much are you spending every month in your current lifestyle? Something around $2500 if you factor in rent, food, and car payments, to say the least right? I can honestly say that during my years of long-term travel, I’ve hardly ever spent more than a $1000 a month, and I’m here to tell you about destinations in the world that you can visit for a while or even live in for no more than that (even less if you’re staying in small towns and out of the big cities), and so it happens that these places are also some of the most beautiful and exotic locations! So why not follow your dreams, pack your bags and travel extensively to one of these great places, if not for a lifetime, then at least for a few months or even a year.

Asia

Cambodia – Angkor

Cambodia: An amazingly rich history, a troubled recent past and an outstanding nature is what you will find in this small friendly country. With a monthly budget of $700 you can easily get by here, even if you choose to base yourself in the capital city of Phnom Penh. Eating in local restaurants will cost you around $2 per meal and a $1 for a beer, even less if you’re adventurous enough to sample the simple but delicious street food. Getting around by Tuk-Tuk will cost you a few bucks a day. Here are some examples of what your daily costs could be like based on a low-cost scenario:

Accommodations = $9

Food = $9

Transportation = $4

Communication = $2

Average daily cost = $24

Thailand

Thailand: While it’s not nearly as cheap as it used to be, the land of smiles is still a mecca for backpackers and long-term travelers and has been for decades since it’s one of the most budget friendly countries in the world… Amazing Low-cost accommodations, excellent food and drinks, cheap public transportation, free pristine beaches, fantastic nature, as well as a lively capital city (Bangkok) all contribute to the perfect recipe for the long-term traveler. Yes! You can have it all for less than $1000 a month. Some examples of what your daily costs could be like based on a low-cost scenario:

Accommodations = $10

Food = $8

Transportation = $10

Communication = $5

Average daily cost = $33

South America

Quito – Ecuador

Ecuador: Just a few dollars daily in your pocket would be enough to survive in this incredibly diverse little country with a tropical climate, great nature and abundant wildlife. Prices in the capital, Quito, are among the lowest of all cities throughout the world and you can easily live on less than a $1000 a month here. In local restaurants you can have an excellent meal with dessert and a drink for about $3, and if you buy food from street vendors and outdoor markets you pay even less. I stayed in a lovely hostel for 7$ a night (including breakfast) in central Quito. Intercity travel is also very cheap, with less than $10 to get from Quito in the Andes to Guayaquil on the Pacific coast. Examples of what your daily costs could be like based on a low-cost scenario:

Accommodations: $8

Food: $8

Transportation: $6

Communication: $6

Average daily cost = $28

Medellin – Colombia

Colombia: While not as cheap as any of its next door neighbors, Colombia might be the place for you in case you’re looking for something a bit more mid-ranged. This rather large country boasts some of the world’s friendliest people, a Caribbean coastline and a full tropical climate, which means there’s no shortage of sunshine! Medellin, the second largest city is a place where you could have a great night out drinking and salsa dancing in “Zona Rosa” for under $15, in addition to an amazing cultural scene. Examples of what your daily costs could be like based on a low-cost scenario:

Accommodations: $14

Food: $9

Transportation: $6

Communication: $5

Average daily cost: $34

Eastern Europe/Eurasia

Tbilisi – Georgia

Georgia: This hidden gem of a country is located in the Caucasus region and borders Russia, Armenia and Turkey. In the capital city of Tbilisi, you can expect mild winters, a cool bohemian vibe, a distinctive culture, extremely affordable food, some excellent wine, and a history stretching back for millennia. The area is also surrounded by lush green mountains and if you take a “Marshrutka” (a small local bus or van) for a few dollars and head north-west for a few hours you can hit the district of Batumi on the Black Sea where you can enjoy some beautiful clean beaches during summer. Examples of what your daily costs could be like based on a low-cost scenario:

Accommodations: $9

Food: $9

Transportation: $4

Communication: $4

Average daily cost per person: $26

Belgrade – Serbia

Serbia: Another country that’s struggling to shake off the war-torn image which remains from the 90s, but has a lot to offer travelers looking for a different experience. Prices for just about everything are quite cheap by European standards, especially when it comes to food and drinks. The capital city Belgrade is slowly changing its image to become a party city with some of Europe’s best music festivals, even though its skyline is still filled with communist-era relics and a few remaining war scars, but that just makes it’s more interesting! Examples of what your daily costs could be like based on a low-cost scenario:

Accommodations: $15

Food: $10

Transportation: $5

Communication: $4

Average daily cost: $34

In later posts we will be talking about other places around the world where it’s not only possible, but rather easy, to travel on a shoe string. Places where travelers can get away for a month or more for under $1000/month in expenses, including accommodation, food, drinks, activities, entertainment and transportation (excluding airfare to and from your country of course). So if you’re planning a long-term trip and looking for ideas, stay tuned! 🙂

Hi I'm Max

Adventure capitalist, travel junky, digital nomad, free thinker, animal lover and lifelong learner. A few years back, following a somewhat turbulent and diverse career in sales, marketing and advertising, I took the decision to step away from the mainstream life I had, got out of the 'rat race' and began traveling and exploring the world and its many intriguing cultures. That's when I realized I wasn't the only one out there, and that I had a choice. A choice to live a different kind of life, an unconventional life. I've been traveling ever since. 71 countries so far and over 350 cities, and counting...